Wichita eagle., 1887-04-28
LITERARY NEW YORK.
THE NEWSPAPERS SAID TO SUR
PASS THE MAGAZINES.

The Periodical Literature OF tho aIe-
tropOlis-Tho New York Press Remark
ably Comprehensive in Its Scope and
Character-MOdern Grub Street."
The literary product Of New York naturally
falls into two general classes, one comprising
the new books and the other the press, taking
that word in its comprehensive meaning. Far
be it from me to confound the press with
literature, but the tw3 overlap each other,
there being a literary side to the press and I.
periodical aspect of literature
In analyZing the literary life OF New York
1t will be found useful to observe the above
classification and to consider the two parts
separately, taking first the periodical htera-
ture Of the city. There are 642 newspapers
and periodicals in New York And taking
these first in the mass, without regard to their
literary character, this great body of printed
product includes 3S daily newspapers, 259
weeklies, and Pa monthlies There are also
no less than % quarterlies, name that cer-
tainly las literary sound The remainder
OF the Gi2 appear at various intervals.
The Now York press is remarkably com
foreign languages u;e represented. the Ger
man having a long lead, with total Of &c
periodicals, The Spanish are next with Q,
then come the French with z the Scandina-
vian and Bohemian with each. the Italian
with 8, the Hebrew with 2, and the Polish
and Hungarian with each. There are 50
periodicals designated under the head of the
religious press, representing the following list
Of denominations: Hebrew, Baptist, Spirit
ualist, Catholic, Methodist Episcopal, Evan
gelical, Reformed, Unsectarian, Episcopal,
Presbyterian, Swedenborgian. Free Thought,
Congregational, Undenominational, Re
formed Catholic, Methodist, Rehgio-Scien-
tific, Christian. Free Methodist, Wesleyan.
THE EDUCATIONAL PRESS.
The educational press, SO called, includes
fourteen college papers, three journals Of
education, and periodicals devoted to pen
manship, photography and deaf mutes.
There are eight law periodicals, twelve do
voted to insurance, and twenty-five to finance
Eight treat Of scierce in all her aspects, and
mining, electricity, and engineering have
three special organs each. "Sport" in it; wide
sense inspires fourteen, music nine, tie drama
seven, art four, military life four, and the
fashions sixteen. Various social organizations
publish thirteen more. There are four tenn
perance organs and one voice for woman suf-
frage. Finally may be mentioned the trade
journals, though few Of these have any rela-
ton to literature. There ere altogether 100
OF them, of which forty-fve deal with COM
mercial interests, nine with railroads, fifteen
with dry goods and clothing, and six each
with the book trade ami with scientific inven-
tons
Now, perhaps third of these periodicals
have literary standard, and make their
editors, contributors and correspondents live
up to it. And in many cases this standard is
high. Nor is this SO only with respect to the
press that is deliberate in its periodicity. When
all is admitted that need Be as to the slovenly
OF daily journalism, it may
safely be contended that the thirty-three daily
print a vast amount OF good
literary work. Indeed, if may be permitted
20 free II yself in the matter, believe there is
a higher literary standard in the newspapers
than in the magazines. The necessity Of
hasty publication in the case of the daily press
results in much slopwork-
MATTER OF MERIT
But where copy" can be prepared with
any leisure, Us for example, for the Sunday
issues, an almost disheartening amount OF
real literature is produced. The daily papers,
too, as everybody knows, have the help Of
tho abless writers OF the age in their critical
functions and special literary features.
Urged by rivalry, the leading newspapers are
eager to buy matter shat has graphic merit,
and many of the brightest minds are exchang-
ing solid fame for an immediate mess OF
9ottage in the seductive guise Of space rates "
The weekly and monthly press are more apt
10 assume q virtue Of "fine writing" If they
have it not. But manyeof them are war
ranted in calling themselves literary. Out Of
the entire 40 there may be 100, or certainly
fifty, that have right to be included in the
literary life Of New York. These periodicals
attract to the city and encourage TO effort a
very large and interesting body Of keen
,n;nds and trimmed pens The modern Scrub
street. is AS crowded as ever, but it is the
back writer's own fault, generally in these
days, If hs or she cannot make a decent
living.
We have seen that the field Of work IS as
wide as humap thought itself, and in each
path eager rivals seel the best thai is offered.
Here in this city, beyond dispute, is the grat
literary market Of the country, and if one hes
literary wares Of merit they are pretty sure
to find customer. But because it is the best
market it is a cruel one. 1t IS the place for
the good, not the poor; for the strong, 10:
tho weak So let young David be sure Of
his sling before he pushes forth TO defy the
Phili,.inea-Co Boston Advertiser.